When Adam and I stepped out of the garden, we came face to face with his circle of friends, and Noami.
Naomi’s eyes widened when she saw us walking toward them, with our hands clasped.
Claire was growing in anger. But no one paid attention to her.
“Where have you two been? In the garden? Since lunch break?” That was Timothy, his voice drowning in incredulity.
Adam nodded to the statement, returning to his cool as cucumber self, withdrawing into his shell; his smile, stiff.
Noting that, I wished I could drag him back to the cave where his soul had been so lifted and free, and his worries forgotten. But then if wishes were horses, beggars would ride. We were back to reality.
“Well, school is over. We should be going so that we can prepare for the party.” Daniel stated, still darting glances between I and Adam. He shook his head afterward, and walked away, without waiting for a response.
I knew that Noah and Daniel knew where Adam and I had been all this while. It was written all over their faces. They couldn’t question Adam on the sanity of his decision though, because they didn’t want to risk the location of their hideout.
Noami waved at me from her not-so-near location-probably not wanting to infuse herself in the circle of friends which she usually called dumb-and I waved back; and I tried to extricate my palm from Adam’s but failed; and I wasn’t the only one that noticed that.
“Let her go, Adam! What do you think you are doing? Did she bewitch you or something?” Claire shouted, unable to hold on to the anger that had been boiling inside her since she had seen Adam and I stroll out of the garden together.
But Adam didn’t give her a reply. He bent down rather and whispered into my left ear.
“Should I walk you home? Do you need my company?”
My insides fluttered in happiness. I wanted to tell him that I would love that. I wanted to tell him that it would be most appreciated. I wanted to irk Claire the most, but then I thought of Naomi. She might be uncomfortable with Adam around, and might not express herself as properly as she used to.
And so, because of my friend, I shook my head. I hoped she would appreciate the sacrifice.
Disappointment flashed across Adam’s face, and I swallowed, then chanted that I was sorry the next second, twice actually or was it thrice? Till Adam placed his index finger on my lips, not minding we were not alone.
“Shhh… It’s okay. I will see you later.” He whispered, before dropping a kiss on my forehead, and gesturing me to walk ahead, toward Naomi while he watched.
I was nervous in the faces of the others, my shyness returning back to me. My cheeks red from blushing, I stalked my way toward Naomi, unable to maintain a steady gait.
Noah was staring at me with a ‘what-have-you-done-to-my-brother’ stare. But I think the question should be reversed. What has Adam done to me? I couldn’t even keep a direct line of thought, without him sauntering into it.
His kisses, the love we made in the cave, his joy, his laughter, his chaste kisses, his voice. Was I willing to let that go? I wondered as I walked up to Naomi who hadn’t managed to get rid of the surprise on her face despite the number of minutes I had spent between conversing with Adam.
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“Oh my god, Maya! You have experienced a goodness I can only dream of! If only we had discovered this earlier…you and Adam would have been high school sweethearts.” Naomi groaned as we walked to her house.
Her house seemed like the best fit for my preparation for the party. I didn’t think my sister would lend me any of her dresses; not after she had heard about me and Adam. I was sure that the news had spread already. I hoped, however, that his parents wouldn’t be informed.
My gut informed me though that my hope was in vain; I would be thoroughly scrutinized at the party tonight. There was also the evil foreboding that had descended over me like a cloud, since I left the garden. But I had chosen not to worry about it.
For now, I chose to live in the moment, and that’s why I laughed at Naomi’s comment, because it reminded me of what a great friend I had, and because it was funny. So, her dream was to get laid? Her mother would go berserk if she heard of this.
“Just a day into the style business, you already snagged the king’s son? Do you know what that means? You are the most attractive girl in this pack! Oh my gosh. My best friend and the king’s son..” She was singing now, but I placed my palm over her mouth immediately, causing an abrupt halt to the next words which I already knew the contents of. The girl was going to put me in trouble.
“So, how many times did you guys do it?” She asked, and I sighed, blushing heavily.
“We did it three times.” I muttered after a beat, thereafter wishing the ground would open up and swallow me when I couldn’t read the expression on Naomi’s face.
Astonishment? Shock? Disbelief?
“Were you that sweet, or was he that good?” She asked finally, her voice tainted with awe. I couldn’t stop myself this time from shouting her name, not minding who would hear.
“What! Is he cranky? like is he into all these kinky bdsm stuff? Did anything like that happen?” She wasn’t bothered by my shouts at all.
I shook my head to either question.
“Okay, that’s good I think. Did something else happen?”
I shook my head again.
I believe this would be another secret that I would be keeping from her. The mark that Adam had given me; and the ritual words he had said even though I had tried to stop him; and the location of the cave.
I still couldn’t wrap my head around it.
I still believed he shouldn’t have let his emotions get the best of him. Because what about Claire? What about my wolfless state? No way would the Lycan king let me and his son tangle in a union, no matter his leniency to me now. We were just not bound to happen. If only I had a wolf gene…
I cussed at my state mentally, not wanting Naomi to ask me questions again. It was suffering, if I should stay. I couldn’t bear seeing him acting lovey dovey with another person. It would kill me.
I also didn’t tell Naomi about my enhanced hearing and sight too. I needed to know if it was a permanent thing or a temporary fix.
That was four secrets now. Four secrets I kept from my best friend. I hoped it wouldn’t come back to bite me in the ass.